THE MYSTERIES OF THE LAND OFFICE

Last Updated on Friday, 09 July 2010 06:36

Written by Daintre Hart

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THE LAND REGISTRY

Applying for Title Deeds, Finding out if your property is mortgaged etc.

1. From time to time most of us need to go to the Land Registry for various things.  This note is to help make this as painless as possible, but if you have experiences which would add to our information about how to use the Registry, please pass it on and we will include it. 
2. While all the advice we are given is to use lawyers – and mostly this is wise -  it is clear from the information below that for local people much of what is done is purely routine.  They would not, for instance, employ a lawyer for much of the simpler routine functions, such as checking whether or not your land is mortgaged.  The Land Registry officers are, in the main, superbly helpful and go out of their way to explain things.
3. The most obvious reason for going to the Land Registry is to try and get your title deeds.  You can also get there copies – and certified copies - of the area maps identifying your registered boundaries and those of the properties in your immediate area.
4. The Land Registry in Limassol is on Franklin Roosevelt Avenue, and if you approach it from the Port Road (first roundabout, Omonoias)  you will be on the right side of the road (turn left at the traffic lights immediately past the Bank of Cyprus).  There is plenty of pay parking behind the building (it also houses the Social Security Office, the Labour Office and the Sewerage Board).   When you go to the Land Registry, you will see some people sitting at desks outside the offices.  These people help you fill in forms and tell you how to get through the various procedures, where to go etc for a small fee.
5. The Land Registry has a downstairs annexe where you present your papers when you apply for your title deeds, and offices inside for payment of the required fees.  Immediately outside the annexe are desks with people who help you to fill in forms and tell you which forms you need.  At least one (Kypros) speaks very good English and equates to a legal assistant, and can advise you about which forms you need.  He will also fill them in for you for a small fee.  He is at his desk from 8 am to 1 pm Monday to Friday and from 3 pm to 8 pm is working from his office. 
6. These people can tell you on how to till in forms relating to title deeds, transfers, payments and revenue and outline the procedures including the need to pay taxes etc.    They also help to draw up Powers of Attorney (which you can nominate anyone to hold, not necessarily a lawyer) and will fill in a search forms for you to see if your property is mortgaged.  They can suggest how to check your boundaries and refer you to one of the recently authorised independent boundary surveyors.   To fill in a simple search form for encumbrances (mortgages on your land you know nothing about!).  The charges are about €5, €10 if you don’t have your ID, etc.  
7. When you submit a search to the Land Registry, it will take between 2 days and a week to get the results, which can be sent by post. Or you can collect them yourself if you return with your receipt.   The minimum Land Registry charges are €1.71 for a simple search and €8.50 for different various searches.   

NB.  Stamp Duty is paid – when you have all your forms correctly completed and supporting documentation – at the Inland Revenue Office on the corner of Nicolaou Pattichi and Gladstonos, next to the Central Police Station.